Rail joint



Feb; 12, 1929. v 1,702,045

R. L. FRYE RAIL JOINT Filed March a 1928 v INVENTOR ATTORNEY cr vice.

BAIL JOINT.

Application filed March 3,

The present invention relates, generally, to rail oints, and, more particularly, to

' means for clamping and holding together the abutted ends of rails as in a track.

An object of the invention is to provide a light, strong, easily applied and economi cal rail joint clamp.

Other objects and advantages of the in vention will appear from the following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, and from the drawing illustrating the same, and from the accompanying claims; and theinvention consists in the new and useful arrangements and combinations of devices and parts set forth in the accompanying claims.

The invention is clearly illustratedin the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation view of the device of the invention in place on a railroad track;

Figure 2, is a similar view but taken from the side opposite to thatshown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 1-41; of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In all the above described views like reference characters are used throughout to indicate corresponding parts.v

In the drawing the railroad tie 10 carries, in end abutting relation, the track rails 12 and 14. Against one side of said abutted rails 12 and 1a and overlapping both of them is the angular fish plate 16 which lies against the web and the base thereof. Opposite said plate 16 a second fish plate 18 lies against the web and base. lhe fish plate is tapered from the middle toward each end, having outer surfaces at an obtuse angle to each other. Each of said plates 16 and 18 has a notch 20 centrally disposed at its lower edge and adapted to receive a rail spike 22 for holding the respective plates against longitudinal movement from said tie 10, but allowing lateral movement thereof toward said rails 12 and 1 1. A pair of narrow saddies 24, 24, one near each end of said plates 16 and 18, extend from engaging relation with the lateral surface of said plate 16, through respective notches 26, 26 in the bottom edge of said plate 16, around under the base of a respective one of said rails 12 and 15%, and through the notches 28, 28 in said together in tightly locked relation.

1928. Serial 1T0. 258,727.

plate 18 thence upwardly with an inwardly offset lug 30 in spaced apart relation above the. bottom portion of said plate 18 and in spaced apart relation with the side portion thereof.

Under a respective one of said lugs 30 and one between each of said saddles 2 1, 2 1 and the respective tapered lateral surface of said fish platell is a wedge 32 having an inner face tapered to fit the tapered face of said plate 18 adjacent thereto and having an outer face which can be parallel to saidrails 12, 14 or slightly inclined to converge inwardly with said inner tapered face. As means for drawing said two wedges 32, 32

toward each other there provided the bolt 3 1 one end having a left hand thread and the other a righthand thread, one end being threaded through one of said wedges 32 and the other through the other. A fined central lug 36 on said bolt 34 serves for turning it to draw said wedges 32, 32 togeth'er or to spread them apart. Lock nuts 38, 38,0ne ad acent each of said wedges 32, 32, serve to 1001: said bolt 3% agamst turning when desired. By turning said bolt st to draw said wedges 32, 32 together, said fish plates 16 and 18 are tightly clamped against the sides of said rails 12 and 14 to hold them Vfith the nuts 38, 38tightly against the respective ones of said wedges 32, 32 the fish plates can be held against any creeping or jarring loose such as occurs in other devices through vibration produced when trains pass over the rails or by expansion and contractions due to changes in temperatures. On the other hand the device can be quickly loosened and reset to relieve the rails of strains caused by expansion or contraction.

I am aware that various changes, and omissions and substitutions, other than those above noted, can be made in device of the invention as illustrated and described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 2

Having thus described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. In a rail connection adapted for use with the meeting ends of two rails; the combination of a pair. of opposed clamping the middle .towardeach end, a pair of wedges one at each of said inclinedsurfaces;

' a pair. of saddles, adapted to extend one from eachof said wedges around, under the rails, and into engaging relation with the clamping. member on theside opposite said inclined clamping member. 7 V

2. In. a rail connection adapted for use having outersurfaces'which are at an obtuse angleto each other and which arefinclined from the middle toward each end;'a pair of Wedges one at each of said inclined surfaces;

rails, and into engaging relation with the a pair of saddles, adapted to extend one from each of said wedgesaround,"underthe clamping member on the side opposite said inclined clamping member, and means formoving said wedges into wedging relation with their respective saddles.

3. In a rail connection adapted for use with theimeetlng ends of two ralls; the com- Q bination of a pair of opposed clamping g niembers, one for each side of said-meeting rails; onerof sald clamping members having I outer surfaces whlch are at an obtuse angle to each other and which are inclined from the middle toward each end; a pair of wedges one. at each of said inclined S1115 V faces;-a pair of saddles, adapted to extend one from each of said wedges around, under I with the meeting ends of two rails; the combination of a' pair of opposed clamp V ingmembers, one for each side of said meeting 'railsqoneof said clamping members the r'ails,and into engaging relation with V the clamping member on the side opposite said inclined clamplng member; and a bolt,

'having-aleft' hand thread and a right hand 7' members,"one for each'side of saidmeeting rails one of said clamping membersflhaving outer surfaces which are at an obtuse angle to each other and which are inclined from the 'middle toward each end; a pair of Jwedges one at each of said inclined surfaces;

a pair of saddles, adapted tofextend one from each ofsaid wedges around, under the rails, and into engaging relation with the clamping member on the side oppo site'said inclined clamping memberyand a bola-having a left hand thread and a right'hand' thread, one extending in threaded relation in each of said Wedgeaada'pted to draw said wedges towardeach other and tomove them to'each of said wedges Y Intestimony, thatI claim the innention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 2Qth day of February, 1928,

thereon and lock nuts-in operative relation cc apart, said bolt having a turning lug or head ROBERT L. FRYE} 

